With polymer clay, you can achieve the look of metal in many ways.
Polymer clay is a versatile medium. It is appealing for craft and sculpture because it is easy to mold and you can bake it in an ordinary oven. It is also useful in that it can imitate other materials. There are many options for making polymer clay metallic or appear to be metal.
Paint
Paint is probably the simplest method of adding a metallic shine to polymer clay. Acrylic craft paints come in many colors and many are pearly or metallic. You thin these paints with water and they are safe to use. They have a disadvantage in that the thick paint may cover up fine details in the clay, the brushstrokes may be visible and a sealer is necessary to protect the paint. Pearly or metallic acrylic sealers can add shine and extra protection to a finished piece that you do not want to paint with solid color. You can add acrylic paint before or after baking the clay. If added before baking, it will bond with the clay as it bakes.
Powders
Mica powder and embossing powder are both easy to use with polymer clay and can create a metallic or pearly look. When mixed into unbaked clay, they create metallic flecks within the clay. This works particularly well with translucent clays. You can also sprinkle the powder onto the surface of unbaked clay or press it into the clay with tools or stamps. You can also brush these powders onto baked clay. When applied to the surface, you should seal powders, especially when applied to baked clay. Metallic makeups, like eyeshadows, adhere well to clay and you can use them in the same way as mica or embossing powders.
Leaf and Foil
Metal leaf is metal that has been pressed into an extremely fine sheet. The metal is typically gold, silver or copper, although sometimes aluminum leaf substitutes for silver leaf, as it will not tarnish. Metal leaf is very delicate and you can lift and smooth pieces onto a surface using a soft brush. It readily sticks to unbaked clay. Foil is very similar, but is made of plastic and comes in many different colors. Foils are attached to thin sheets of mylar. Rubbing the sheet against a polymer clay piece releases the foil and attaches it to the clay. You may need to heat some foils with a hairdryer or heat gun.
Wax
Rub-on waxes are pigmented waxes that are typically metallic. You smear them onto unbaked or baked polymer clay pieces, then buff them into the surface once dry. Waxes are simple to apply and create striking effects on raised or textured surfaces. However, they do not mix well in clay and you should apply them when a piece has been baked or is ready to be baked, and the wax must be sealed afterwards. Typically, crafters use this technique on baked clay. Wiping away some of the wax before sealing can create an antiqued effect.
